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Refereeing is one of the least valued jobs in college hockey. Make a wrong call and the crowd will turn to them. Missing the other, even more people are in their arms. However, if they can keep the game stable and ensure the safety of the players, then these are not important.

The officials did nothing for Michigan State and Ohio State in Saturday's game.

From the beginning of the first quarter, both teams gave the best play to the emotions of the game. After the energetic game on Friday, they came out to hit heavy and often late shots, which immediately formed the tone of the body. It only takes one game to make this kind of game ugly. 

This is exactly what happened on Saturday.

In the first quarter, freshman forward Marc Esztapa approached Buckeyes goalkeeper Jakubu Dobes after a save, which triggered Essapa and second-year forward Brendan Brie Long quarrel between Mori and Ohio State University skaters.

In the absence of any punishment for the game, the officials allowed these emotions to accumulate. Soon, the Buckeyes forward Kamil Sadlocha had a heated exchange with senior defender Nick Blankenburg. Before the linesman separated them, they saw The quarrel between the two on the ice. After Blankenburg’s helmet was broken during the game, officials called to get the game back on track:

"Blankenburg, wear a mask for two minutes."

Without offsetting the penalties to calm the two teams, the officials let the players take the rule book in their own hands. Whether it’s Ohio State guard James Marooney being asked to board the plane for the kind of shot allowed earlier in the game, or Michigan freshman guard Ethan Edwards blatant head contact Known as minors, officials have been changing the boundaries between what is possible and what is not. Will not happen in the game.

Result: A de facto wrestling match, with a penalty of 99 minutes. Frankly speaking, the total should be higher.

"Look at that game, you have an NHL referee, you may have 50 penalties-no kidding-50 penalties against Ohio State University," Michigan coach Mel Pearson said. "It won't change until we start from the top. You will understand how we will call the game."

The problem must come from both teams, Pearson admitted:

"Nor are we angels," he added.

Sports competitions are necessary and may even be beneficial to the sport because the team tries to defend the sprint. But when the NCAA prides itself on protecting players and promoting skilled games, Saturday's performance runs counter to its intentions.

In the third quarter, senior forward Jimmy Lambert struck Buckeyes defender Cam Thiesing with a stick after a late shot, and Thiesing performed a nasty cross-check on Lambert. The officials could have let them all leave the ice rink, thus shutting down any future Scrum. Instead, their refusal to call set the tone for revenge.

By the end of this section, four misconduct caused players to be eliminated due to quarrels. This is an embarrassment for the competition the NCAA wants to cultivate.

Officials must prevent the game from turning into a gloved fist fight. It drags skilled teams into the quagmire of college hockey trying to distance themselves. When skaters dash through the net and fight on top of the goalkeeper, they don't exist.

How long will it be until the NCAA stepped in to draw a line on the beach to prevent Saturday’s results from happening again?

When Ohio State University forward Patrick Guzzo pushed the linesman who tried to pull him out of the game, I thought of the minor leagues. Hockey used to be full of law enforcement arguments. I remember seeing adult men punching each other during the argument on the bench.

Add to that the antics of Ohio State forward Joe Dunlap raising his arms in the air after the Buckeyes’ sixth goal and a massive fight, and it looks like 10 years. Those low-skilled and dangerous games before.

If the NCAA doesn't start calling the game correctly as early as possible, then it will become that kind of game.

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